diff --git a/jquery.validation/jquery.validation-tests.ts b/jquery.validation/jquery.validation-tests.ts
index fcc22d296..5a6a10770 100644
--- a/jquery.validation/jquery.validation-tests.ts
+++ b/jquery.validation/jquery.validation-tests.ts
@@ -187,6 +187,7 @@ function test_methods() {
     });
     $("#myform").validate().form();
     $("#myform").validate().element("#myselect");
+    $("#myform").validate().element($("#myselect"));
     var validator = $("#myform").validate();
     validator.resetForm();
     validator.showErrors({ "firstname": "I know that your firstname is Pete, Pete!" });
diff --git a/jquery.validation/jquery.validation.d.ts b/jquery.validation/jquery.validation.d.ts
index f8b6ca70c..118b19ef6 100644
--- a/jquery.validation/jquery.validation.d.ts
+++ b/jquery.validation/jquery.validation.d.ts
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ interface Validator
      * 
      * @param element An element to validate, must be inside the validated form. eg "#myselect"
      */
-	element(element: string): boolean;
+	element(element: string|JQuery): boolean;
     /**
      * Validates the form, returns true if it is valid, false otherwise.
      */